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Modelling of Wetting and Drying Cycles in Building Structures

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Drying and Wetting of Building Materials and Components

Part of the book series: Building Pathology and Rehabilitation ((BUILDING,volume 4))

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Abstract

Many buildings are frequently subjected to deterioration caused by dampness, whose effects can be amplified by structure material properties, and microclimatic conditions. This contribution proposes a quantitative model to perform a physical analysis of rising damp. The main driving forces which control the process were identified and expressed in formulae that involve generally obtainable microclimatic data. Wetting and drying cycles were analyzed to understand the periodic behaviour due to absorption and evaporation of moisture into and out of the structure. The model was applied to a field study to derive physical quantities that are not usually calculated in monitoring plans, such as the amount of water stored, the drying flow rate and the time-scale for drying. The daily evaporation rate was finally computed over a five year period and the harmonic equation fitting the curve was determined by considering meteorological data. The model showed that the drying capacity of the micro-environment was a primary factor in seasonal variations of the total flow through the building which lead to long-term damage. The developed model allowed much information on moisture cycles and on the associated deterioration of the structure to be obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scuola Superiore Isufi (SSI), University of Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    Delia D’Agostino

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  1. Delia D’Agostino
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Correspondence to Delia D’Agostino .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. LFC - Building Physics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    J.M.P.Q. Delgado

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D’Agostino, D. (2014). Modelling of Wetting and Drying Cycles in Building Structures. In: Delgado, J. (eds) Drying and Wetting of Building Materials and Components. Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04531-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04531-3_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-04531-3

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